Berkeley, California (Tuesday, November 23, 2010) - On Tuesday, November 23rd at 6:00 a.m., members of the City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD), Berkeley Boosters Association, University of California Police Department (UCPD) and community volunteers will gather in front of Old City Hall to continue a 26 year tradition.

The gathered groups will assemble 250 food baskets to be distributed to families in need by uniformed BPD and Parking Enforcement Officers. Each basket will contain a turkey, fresh produce, and enough canned and packaged food to feed approximately eight (8) people. Before the December holidays, a second lot of 250 baskets will be assembled and given away.

During this year’s “Turkey Ride,” twenty (20) BPD and UCPD officers rode over 200 miles in three days and raised over $8,000 in donations to help fill the turkey baskets.

The Turkey Ride was conceived in 1983 when three (3) BPD officers rode their bikes from Berkeley to South Lake Tahoe. During their journey, those original riders decided to build future rides into fund-raising events and use the money to help Berkeley families in need. Each year, participants of the ride receive great supportfrom a dedicated team composed of members of BPD, family and the Berkeley Boosters Association.

This year’s program goals could not have been met without the long-time support of Safeway, which donates the majority of the turkeys, the Berkeley Rotary Club, which contributes generous financial support and Greenleaf Produce as well as the Alameda County Food Bank who donate additional food for the baskets.

The Turkey Riders and the event organizers would like to thank Safeway, the Berkeley Rotary Club, Greenleaf Produce and the Alameda County Food Bank for their ongoing generous support and donations.